"Everytime I try to fly I fall,

Without My Wings I feel so small,

I guess I need you baby..."

"Kurt, please just..." Blaine followed Kurt out of the room but didn't go any further. He knew this was between Kurt and his father, but it would be a lie to say that he didn't want some answers too. He watched Kurt storm away determinedly before retreating back into the bedroom and sitting on the bed, running a hand through his hair. Damn he needed another haircut soon or he'd turn into a yeti. The gap in the drapes let through the glow of the moon, it was full and Blaine could swear that it was brighter than usual. He slipped off the bed and walked over to the window, tugging the heavy drapes aside to let more of the ghostly light in. The window was steamed with condensation with the cold air from outside. The season were different in this world, there were simply two. Summer and Winter. It was Summer most of the time, Winter only lasted a few weeks but the change was drastic and intense. It meant it could be bright and sunny one day and snowing in a blizzard the next so it was hard to prepare for, Blaine couldn't imagine how hard it would be to keep a place as large as the Palace warm when Winter hit; which he guessed would be soon. There was an icy chill in the air that sent Blaine shivering right to the center of his bones and a thin mist coated the grass and flowers when he first woke up in the morning.

He touched the glass with the tips of his fingers, wiping away some of the condensation and peering down at the view. You could see pretty much the entire garden from here and it looked strangely creepy in the moons light. He could see the shed where he and Kurt first admitted their feelings for one another, and the tree that they kissed under before Kathy found put their secret. He could see where he and Kurt had danced at the ball, and the direction in which he'd been stole away afterwards. He could see the fountain that Kurt liked to sit under, though it was meant to be a coincidence, Blaine was now certain it was of Kurt's mother. But the Prince was right, none of this made sense. The Queen couldn't have been human. How could she and the King had met if she was? Was it possible? To grow a pair of wings and shrink to the size that your thumb had been before? Blaine knew very little about magic. Only the small amounts that he'd be able to work out from the book, but he'd never seen anything close to that. Even the most simple spell contained so much detail and...and...wait. If the Queen was human, she couldn't have possessed magic abilities. It was impossible. So who cast the spell?

He closed the drapes, shutting out the cold and moving back to the bed. He picked up the letter and looked at the diagram at the bottom. It looked ridiculously complicated and detailed, small rushed scribbles of instructions squeezed in around the picture that were difficult to make out.

This spell can make anything possible. It's dark and dangerous, and if not used correctly it can cause a lot of destruction.

"Wow," Blaine muttered, putting the information down again, scared he would caused something to go wrong just by reading the words on the page.

He sat cross legged on the bed and waited for the Prince's return patiently (or as patiently as he could manage anyway.)

Kurt was gone for over an hour and Blaine started to worry, playing with the edge of the comforter and wondering what could possibly be happening. Kurt had been through enough for a while, for the rest of his life in Blaine's opinion, but apparently whatever was out there didn't agree. The Slave was about to get up and start pacing in front of the bed, feeling so anxious he may burst, when Kurt walked back through the door slowly, looking pale with his arms wrapped around himself tightly.

"Kurt, what...?"

"I want to go to sleep," Kurt told him, climbing back into bed.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked, brushing his hand down the Prince's arm.

"I'm tired."

"Kurt..."

"Blaine," The elder's voice quavered, "Please, not now."

Blaine swallowed heavily and curled himself around Kurt's body, the Prince quickly melting into his place as the little spoon, "Okay," he agreed feeling his chest grow tighter.

Kurt pressed his back more firmly against Blaine's chest, "Thank you."

oxoxoxo

"Are you awake?"
"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"What's-?"
"I'm gonna take a shower," Kurt informed, slipping out of Blaine's hold.

"Wait, wait Kurt please," Blaine threw back the comforter and sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at the Prince, "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Kurt chewed his lip for a second before he nodded, "Afterwards."

"Okay, " Blaine agreed, becoming a little more relaxed, "Don't take too long."

Kurt nodded before walking away quickly and disappearing inside the bathroom. Blaine lay back against the bed and closed his eyes, listening to the sound of running water.

oxoxoxo

"Hey," a voice mumbled quietly as the bed beside Blaine dipped.

Blaine didn't open his eyes but reached out for the body beside him, quickly finding Kurt's waist and tugging him close.

"Why are you so reluctant to tell me?" Blaine wondered out loud.

"I'm not exactly reluctant. I'm still trying to work it all out myself " Kurt replied softly, "My head is spinning."

Blaine opened his eyes and Kurt shifted so his head was rested on Blaine's chest, his damp hair creating a wet patch on the Slaves sleep shirt.

"You don't have to tell me right now, I would like to know though," Blaine rubbed the Prince's shoulders and kissed the top of his head lightly.

Kurt sighed and nodded, "My mom didn't die giving birth to me, that was just a cover up story. "

"A cover up?" Blaine repeated, "For what?"

"She was murdered," Kurt whispered, his voice breaking, "By the governors. "

"W-what?"

Kurt swallowed audibly, "She was human. My Dad first met her when he was ten; he discovered the tree in the basement and they fell in love over the next seven years. My Dad could do magic too, enough to alter them to the same size but not enough to turn her into a proper fairy with wings and everything. But when it was time for him to marry like it's mine now he obviously couldn't marry a human. He told his parents, my grandparents, and he and the King traveled to the dark hills to find a witch who could help."

"They agreed to that? But it's so dangerous, " Blaine exclaimed.

"It took a lot of convincing, weeks of crying and begging but eventually they agreed. I think the fact that my mom was pregnant with me by then helped. They found a witch who agreed to help them for a large sum. She gave them a potion that was black and steaming and told my dad to make my mom drink it," Kurt's eyebrows were pulled in and he was playing with the hem of Blaine's shirt.

"Did she?"

Kurt nodded.

"What happened?"

"She turned into a fairy," Kurt revealed, "And gained the power of the potion too, that's why I have such strong power though I've never really tested it."

"That's amazing."

"But the governors didn't like it. They thought she was unworthy even though they told the kingdom that she was a princess from a faraway place. They thought she was dirty, infected with magic and human qualities and thought the same of me. They hid me from the kingdom. As soon as my grandparents died they murdered my mom, hoping my dad would marry a true princess and create other heirs, but he refused and they were forced to reveal me to the kingdom and say my mom died during childbirth. My Dad was too scared of the governors to say anything against it, I mean they murdered his wife he wasn't going to give them a cause to hurt anyone else."

"But the age difference, you would have been around three when the rest of the kingdom learned you were born, " Blaine pointed out, "It doesn't make sense."

"They told the kingdom my dad didn't want to talk about it until he left ready to move on with things."

"Three years?"

"Three years," Kurt confirmed.

Blaine chewed his lip and hugged the Prince closer, "I'm so sorry Sweetheart."

Kurt nodded and inhaled deeply, "Me too."

"You're definitely more than worthy by the way," Blaine smiled.

Kurt gave a soft laugh, "Thank you."

"I mean it," Blaine said seriously

"I know you do."

"If there's a spell to turn you into a fairy there must be one to turn you human right?"

"Er...Yeah I guess there must, what about it?"

"We could run away to the human world, " Blaine pointed out.

"You'd live without your wings for me?" Kurt chewed his lip.

"If I don't have you it feels like I'm without them anyway. You are my Wings, with no you I'm totally grounded," Blaine mumbled into Kurt's hair.

Kurt gulped, blinking back tears as his chest tightened, "We'll think of something."

"So you keep saying."

"We'll have to, because I can't rule a kingdom without you," Kurt replied sounding determined but terrified.

"Of course you can. You can do anything you want to do," Blaine promised.

"I-"

"Kiddo?" A soft knock sounded at the door and it creaked open softly to reveal the King in fluffy slippers and green pyjamas, "Can I come in?"

"You kind of already are," Kurt pointed out, not moving from his comfortable position on Blaine's chest.

"Ah, right," Burt gave a weak laugh and shuffled further into the room, "Are...Are you okay?"

"I think so, " Kurt replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I only ever wanted to protect you," Burt perched on the edge of the bed and patted his son's leg a little awkwardly.

"I know Dad, I understand. "

"I'm guessing he knows everything," The King gestured lightly at Blaine.

"Of course," Kurt's hand tightened in Blaine's shirt.

"And he knows he's sworn to secrecy?"

"Yes Sir," Blaine replied, "...I'm sorry about...everything. "

Burt nodded, "Me too. I know how it feels to love someone you're not meant to, but the governors are dangerous people and I have to keep both of you safe. I'm sorry I can't help but I need to protect you, and that means keeping the governors happy. They'd be furious if they found out about you two."

"There has to be something..."

"Kurt, no please don't medal in this. And don't begin to do magic, they hate it. "

"But..."

"No Kurt," Burt replied firmly.

Kurt turned his head to hide in Blaine's shirt, "It's not fair."

"I know."

oxoxoxo

"Oh shit! Damn it."

Kurt frowned, letting go of Blaine's hand as they rounded the corner of the garden path.

"Are you okay?"

"Holy cra-um, Sir hello," One of the warbler orphans was crouched over a flower bed, covered from head to foot in smudges of dirt and mud.

"I don't mean to be rude but um...what's your name again?" Kurt asked. struggling to put a name to the face.

"Jeff Sir," the boy replied, brushing blonde bangs from blue eyes.

"Do you need a hand?" Kurt offered, noticing the mess of flowers and decapitated roses.

"Er...no it's just Hunter, he refuses to do any work and I was just trying to get both our jobs done at once, " Jeff explained, anger simmering in his voice.

Kurt screwed up his nose, "You can stop. Go and take a break, I'll talk to Hunter when I have time."

"But Sir...the flowers, I.."

"Don't worry about them, I've got it sorted," Kurt reassured him.

"Thank you. "

Blaine waited until Jeff left before he spoke, "I'm guessing I'm doing this?"

Kurt shook his head and lowered himself to his knees, "We are."

"What? But..."

"It's only a few roses, I'm sure I'll survive a little hard labor," Kurt chuckled.

"Hard labor?" Blaine replied, falling to his knees beside him with a smirk on his face, "This, my Sweet Prince, is not what I would call 'hard labor'."

"Maybe not, but it's a good distraction," Kurt said, a little quieter as he picked up a rose head and cradled it between his palms.

Blaine stiffened for a second before he slouched and ran his hand absentmindedly through the damp soil in front of him, "Yeah I guess, how are you holding up?"

Kurt stroked the soft waxy petals with the tip of his index finger, "I honestly don't know. My entire world has been flipped on its head in a matter of seconds, I don't think I've really accepted it yet."

Blaine bit his lip, not knowing what to say.

"Anyway, " Kurt dropped the rose and sat back on his heels, "You going to teach me the basics of this hard labor that is unknown to me?" He grinned.

Blaine laughed, "It would be an honor your highness."

oxoxoxo

"Hello Hunter," Kurt said softly, walking up to him the next day where he was sunbathing in the garden.

The boy didn't even open his eyes, "Ah, I'd heard that Jeffrey had played the role of tattle tale. Have you come to give me a royal spanking?"

Kurt felt his cheeks grow hot and had to stop himself from smacking the smirk of his face, "Why are you leaving it to the other boys to do your dirty work?" Kurt demanded.

"I didn't tell them to do it, it was their own decision, nothing to do with me, " Hunter replied pointedly.

"Why didn't you do it in the first place?"

"I'm not some Slave," Hunter sat up, resting on his elbows and looking at Kurt menacingly, "Got it?"

"I know you're not. You're a guest who's paying back our hospitality. You don't get something for nothing in this world."

Hunter laughed, "Apart from you of course."

"You think I've got it easy? You've got no idea, " Kurt replied bitterly, "How hard is it to plant some flowers to say thanks for not throwing me out on the street?"

Hunter laughed again, "Do you mind moving? You're blocking my sun."

Kurt glared and dragged a hand through his hair, "What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem? What the hell is yours?"

"Don't speak to me like that."

"Sorry. What the hell is yours, Sir? What's this got to do with you? You don't have to do the work that I don't. Why do you care?" Hunter challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not fair on the others. Your friends," Kurt stood in the sun's direct light, blocking it completely as Hunter remained in his shadow.

"I don't belong here. Not like this, I'm not an orphan, I have a family," Hunter sat up properly and got to his feet, not liking Kurt to be towering over him.

"Why are you here then?" Kurt asked, his anger suddenly turning to curiosity.

Hunter looked at Kurt for a second before his gaze flickered to the floor, "I'm better then all these people," he ignored Kurt's question before storming off.

"Hunter, wait..."

"Leave me alone."

oxoxoxo

"That one?" Blaine asked, gesturing to the Warbler who was sat cross legged under a tree while some others were collecting the leaves that had fallen from it.

Kurt glanced at Hunter before he nodded, "Yep, are you sure you want to talk to him? He's kind of an ass."

Blaine laughed lightly, "I'm sure, we can't just leave him to do as he wants, it's not fair on the others."

Kurt nodded and chewed his lip, "Don't be too long, my Dad wants to talk to us later."

"Okay," Blaine gave his own nod before walking over to the group of boys with a friendly stride, "Hey, you guys need a hand?"

Hunter looked up, his eyes scanning Blaine from the top of his curls to the mud on his shoes, "Who are you?"

"Blaine Anderson," The Slave replied, "I'm the Prince's personal Slave, he let me have the day off."

Hunter raised an eyebrow, "How did you manage that? Did you suck his-"

"He said I deserved a break," Blaine interrupted.

"Then why would you help us?"

Blaine shrugged, "Why not?"

"We're almost done thanks," One of the other boys replied, "...What's the Prince really like?" His voice dripped with curiosity.

Blaine smiled and sat down next to Hunter, "He's nice. Not what you would really expect I guess."

"Do you mind working for him?" Hunter asked the question this time and Blaine threw him a small smile before he answered.

"Not at all, it's better than not having a home...both my parents died and the Palace brought me from my previous owner," Blaine explained, seeing his chance to find out more about the arrogant boy, "Do you have any family?"

"Yes."

"Oh," Blaine's eyebrows pulled in, "Then why are you in an orpha-?"

"I...I ran away," Hunter stuttered, looking at the floor and chewing his lip.

An idiot could tell that it was a lie, but Blaine didn't push it any further, "At least you have a place to run away from," He shrugged.

"I'm sorry about your parents. What was your owner like?" One of the other boys asked.

oxoxoxo

Blaine ended up spending the rest of the day with the Warblers, making friends with most of them and becoming especially close to two boys named Wes and David. They had sat in the garden while Kathy flirted shamelessly with one named Thad. In all honestly Blaine didn't see what Kurt was talking about, Hunter seemed okay. If a little over touchy and reluctant to say anything that wasn't an innuendo when he was around the rest of the warblers. But when the warblers had gone back to the Slavery and it was just Hunter and Blaine it was an entirely different story.

"Did your parents know?" Hunter asked him, seeming much more relaxed and with a tone in his voice that hadn't been there before.

Blaine looked at him and tilted his head, "Know what?"

"That you're...that you're gay?" Hunter asked, his eyes flicking to the pattern on Blaine's sweater to avoid his eyes.

Blaine shook his head, still watching the boy closely, "No. No they died before I even knew."

"Oh," Hunter looked away completely now, staring at the grass that was a just the tiniest bit damp, "Do you think they would have minded?"

Blaine shrugged, "In all honestly...I can't really remember them. I like to think that they'd be fine with it, I mean...It's a pretty normal occurrence now thanks to Kurt coming out."

"Yeah. Yeah I guess," Hunter agreed, giving a small sigh.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked, putting his hand over Hunter's and making him jump slightly.

"Er, y-yeah I...," The boy took a deep breath, "I...I lied, I didn't run away, I was thrown out."

Blaine's eyebrows shot up, "Why?"

"My Dad caught me with a guy," Hunter mumbled, chewing his lip, "He literally picked me up and chucked me out of the house."

Blaine frowned, "I'm sorry."

Hunter shook his head, "I'd never been more scared in my whole life. I hated to have disappointed him, we were so close before...he didn't even say goodbye."

"It's okay to be close to people you know," Blaine commented, "Sometimes it can hurt more, but it's better than pretending to be someone you're not," he looked at Hunter pointedly and nudged him with his shoulder, "And to not have anyone at all."

Hunter blushed, "Are you hungry? We could go and grab something..."

"Yeah," Blaine nodded and got to his feet, offering Hunter his hand to help him up too, "I'd like that."

oxoxoxo

"Where the hell have you been?" Kurt demanded, "My Dad wanted to talk to us remember?"

"Damn it," Blaine cursed, closing the bedroom door behind him, "I completely forgot, I'm so sorry."

Kurt let out a huff and folded his arms across his chest, "You're hopeless."
Blaine bit his lip, "I really am sorry."

"I know," Kurt sighed, walking forward and put his hands on Blaine's hips, "But I missed you, what were you doing?"

Blaine smiled, putting his arms around Kurt's shoulders, "Let's just say I don't think we have to worry about Hunter anymore."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, "How did you manage that?"

"He's a good guy," Blaine commented, placing a peck on Kurt's lips before he pulled away and started searching for pajamas.

Kurt followed him with his eyes, "What?"

"Hunter. He's nice," Blaine shrugged, "He's just lonely I think."

Kurt frowned for a second before he shook his head, "I'll take your word for it, although he could use some advice on how to make friends. Rule one: Don't treat them like crap."

Blaine laughed, tugging off his sweater and shirt, "Hm."

Kurt turned away and climbed onto the bed, "I don't think my Dad is very happy with you now."

"Was he ever?"

"Of course. I'm pretty sure he likes you...he hasn't cut off your head yet, or turned you into the governor's. Besides I'm almost certain that he knew about us from the very start and he didn't say anything."

"Only because he didn't want it to be true, unfortunately ignoring it didn't make it go away."

"Maybe."

"Any ideas with us?" Blaine asked, walking back over the bed now he was changed into his sleep wear.

Kurt sighed loudly and shook his head, "Not without one of us more than likely following in my Mom's footsteps."

Blaine mirrored his sigh.

"How about you?"

"Nope," The Slave shook his head and fell directly on top of Kurt on the bed, making him squeal and giggle.

"Why are you flattening me?"

"I'm not."

"Yes you are! Blaine get off," Kurt laughed again.

Blaine hid his face in Kurt's shoulder, "And what if I don't?" he challenged, his voice muffled.

"I'll tickle you," Kurt threatened.

"Or you could just cuddle me," Blaine pouted.

"I can't if you squish me to death first," Kurt pointed out, locking his arms around Blaine's waist.

"I didn't eat that much today, geez," Blaine teased.

"No but the weight of your hair might do it," Kurt teased back, burying his face in the dark curls and inhaling deeply.

"I thought you liked my curls?"

"I do, but it's practically a jungle right now. Soon tiny monkey's will be swinging from curl to curl," Kurt mused.

"You're completely crazy," Blaine laughed, "I love you."

"I love you too Monkey man."

"Cut it for me tomorrow?" The Slave requested, feeling Kurt's chest rise and fall with his own.

"And destroy the tiny monkey's habitat? How cruel."

"Kurt!"

"Okay, Monkey man. Maybe I'll let them live in my hair for a while."

Blaine rolled his eyes, "Goodnight Kurt."

"Goodnight."